The Sindh Government has officially announced a compensation of Rs. 10 million (1 crore) for the families of those who lost their lives in the Gulf Plaza tragedy.
Speaking to the media after a high-level meeting regarding the blaze, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah stated that the distribution of relief funds to the heirs of the deceased will commence tomorrow.
He described the Gulf Plaza fire as a massive catastrophe, noting that firefighters and rescue teams are currently attempting to access the building from three different points.
The Chief Minister provided a grim update on the human cost of the incident.
The death toll has risen to 15. Meanwhile, 65 individuals remain missing (with some reports suggesting the number of untraced persons reached 73 earlier).
22 injured persons are currently undergoing medical treatment.
Authorities are working tirelessly to locate those still unaccounted for.
CM announced the formation of an inquiry committee headed by the Commissioner of Karachi. The government will seek assistance from the Lahore Forensic Lab for the investigation, he added.
An inquiry will be conducted to identify lapses, and those found negligent will face strict punishment.
He noted that a fire audit of 145 buildings was conducted in 2024, implying that safety protocols are being reviewed.
The fire was finally extinguished after a grueling 33-hour operation.
The Chief Fire Officer confirmed that the cooling process is still underway.
Rescuers are using cutters to remove window frames and hammers to demolish walls to gain further access.
Firefighters successfully entered the building late Sunday night following reports that individuals might still be trapped on the third floor.
